The ancient murrelet, Synthliboramphus antiquus, is a sea bird of the family alcidae – known as auks. The Ancient Murrelets plumage consists of a uniform grey back, white collar, black face and during breeding an “eyebrow” of white feathers (Sibley, 2016). The grey back is presumed be the influence for the moniker ancient as it has the resemblance to a shawl worn by an elderly person. We can only hope that the ancient murrelet can forgive us for this tragic misnomer (Audubon, 2017). The average ancient murrelet is of 25cm length with a weight of 205 grams. This is like other members of the genus synthliboramphus but is strongly contrasted to other members of the auk family which can have a length of 45cm and weigh as much as 1400 grams, as in the example of the Thick-billed Murre (Cornell university, 2017). The small yellow bill of the ancient murrelet is unique among auks – some of which are known for large and colourful bills; such as puffins (Cornell University, 2017).

 

 

The ancient murrelet can be found along pacific coasts from California to Alaska and east to Japan (Species at Risk, 2017) .

 

 

 

 

 

Unlike other seabirds (which must get a running start) the ancient murrelet is quite maneuverable and is capable of taking off directly from water (Audubon, 2017).

The diet of the ancient murrelet consists of plankton and fish. Surveys off the coat of Victoria, during the winter, showed that the stomach contents of ancient murrelets were mostly Euphausia pacifica (a species of krill) and the occasional fish (Gaston et al, 1993)

Ancient murrelets breed along coastal shorelines preferring small forested islands where they can excavate burrows in soil. During mating season, male ancient murrelets, in a display of eminently un-alcid like behavior, will perch themselves in trees at night and sing. (Audubon, 2017)

Colonies can range is size from a few hundred individuals to more then 70000 pairs. Burrows generally have entrances less then 25cm in diameter and a length of more the 40cm with an enlarged brood chamber at the end. Two eggs will be lain approximately 8 days apart and both will hatch within 24 hours of one another (Gaston et al, 1988).

Burrows are located within 300 to 400 meters from shoreline. (Species at Risk Public Registry, 2017). This proximity to the shore allows the chicks, which leave the nest within four days of hatching, access to the ocean – where they will be subsequently raised. (Audubon, 2017)

 

 

Many birds are known to migrate – this movement is usually north-south to take advantage of seasonal changes in weather and food availability associated with changes in latitude. Research conducted in 2015 has shown that the ancient murrelet engages in a peculiar east-west migration. Murrelets nesting on Haida Gwaii were fitted with small geolocators, which estimated global position. During the next breeding season on Haida Gwaii the geolocators were retrieved from the birds. This revealed that the birds nesting on Haida Gwaii had spent their winter within the Sea of Japan. Previously it had been thought that birds seen within the Sea of Japan originated from asian breeding populations. This is the first recorded case of east-west migration across the North Pacific. This is believed to be the result of ancient murrelets retracing their historical path of colonization – as genetic data tentatively points to the ancient murrelet (as a species) originating in asia (Gaston, et al. 2015).

Ancient murrelet chicks journeying to the ocean – as narrated by the glorious David Attenborough (sorry for the video quality).

Ancient murrelets are listed as a species of least concern by the international union for the conservation of nature. (Cornell University, 2017) Unfortunately they are listed as a species of concern in the Canadian species at risk public registry. This discrepancy could be due to the sole breeding area in Canada – Haida Gwaii, having populations of introduced predators, such as rats and racoons. These predators have dramatically reduced Ancient Murrelet populations (Environment Canada, 2015). The next blog post will be concerning the conservation of the Ancient Murrelet.

 

References:

Ancient Murrelet. 2017. All about Birds. Cornell lab of Ornithology. Web. 17 Sept. 2017.

Ancient Murrelet. 2017. Audubon guide to North American Birds. Web. 17 Sept. 2017.

Environment Canada. 2015. Management Plan for the Ancient Murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiquus) in Canada [Proposed]. Species at Risk Act Management Plan Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. iii + 33 pp.

Gaston, A. J., Hashimoto, Y., Wilson, L., & Daunt, F. (2015). First evidence of east–west migration across the north pacific in a marine bird. Ibis, 157(4), 877-882. doi:10.1111/ibi.12300

Gaston, A. J., Sealy, S. G., & Carter, H. R. (1993). Winter ecology and diet of ancient murrelets off Victoria, British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 71(1), 64-70. doi:10.1139/z93-010

Sibley, D.A. 2016. In: The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America. Alfred A. Knopf, NY, p 193

Thick-billed Murre. 2017. All about Birds. Cornell lab of ornithology Web. 17 Sept. 2017.